my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

At 38 weeks they estimated baby to be close to 8lbs. Might gain another pound and she said I might not want to deliver a baby that big vaginally.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

It may be that your pelvis is small. There has to be a reason. All of my mother's children were over 8 pounds with me being 9 and a half pounds, but she was a big-boned woman.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

personally I already spoke w/ my doc and told her if this is anywhere near 8 pounds, I want a C. I have a small frame though

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

I am not small at all and she said 8 something at birth would not be too bad, but 9 something she would recommend it. But I could just wait and see how it goes.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

I am very tall but have a small frame too....and I delivered both my babies vaginally - both 8 1/2 pounds very easily with only 5 pushes for each! Don't be discouraged!

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

You could try do deliver vaginally and if it doesn't work then have the c-section.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

I know a few people who were told that their baby was measuring big, but when they were born they were only in the 7 lb. range.

Just a consideration...

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

My baby is about 9 pounds now. I am going to try to go without csection. But he they dont come then they can do it.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

My first DS was 8 lbs and I delivered him vaginally. I also have a pretty small frame. My 2nd son was delivered by csection due to heart issues. After doing both, I would have preferred to do my first delivery all over again compared to a section. 8 lbs is a nice size, not too big.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

What? I am 5 feet tall and I EASILY delivered an 8lb 8 oz baby. Why not try labor and if all else fails then move to a c-section.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

I agree with the OP... I wouldn't trust those weight estimates... they have a rep of being rather unreliable....

if it were me, I'd try to labor and only if it became obvious that the baby was too big would I opt for the C-section.

good luck!

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

I'm surprised people think 8 lbs is a big baby. To me that is average size.

Message edited 7/26/2008 1:52:48 PM.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

With the belly measurements, DD was measuring a week ahead of schedule throughout my 3rd trimester. Through a growth sono at 35-36 weeks she was estimated to be about 7 pounds. At 37 weeks, the doctor said she was 7.5 pounds and would surely be close to 9 pounds.

She was born at 39w4d and weighed a whopping........... 7lbs 6ounces (LESS than her estimated weight almost a month earlier).

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

Here's the deal -- you're baby may be too big or he may not be -- you won't know unless you try.

My cousin was told she needed a C-section for her "big baby" that was born (via C) at 6lbs 5 ounces.

There are a lot of girls on this board who have delivered 8 lbs+ babies vaginally with no problems.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

my peds thought my dd was almost 9lbs when i was close to my due date. She was born at 7lbs 5 ozs.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

i agree with what goldi said 100%.. i don't think it has anything to do with your size.. i'm not a birthing expert nor fanatic (i actually sit up and cry at night thinking about the process) but i do feel we have to keep in mind that babies were born big for years.. YEARS before c-sections were available or optional.. your body is made to give birth after carrying for 10 months..
and to add to that, i gave birth to a 8lb 7 oz baby girl (my daughter) and at the time i was 5'7 and 118lbs..skinny as a rail..I was 23 and still shopped in the gap kids section of the store.. but my body made it happen because babies are meant to be born vagially.. 8lbs is not a big baby..

i'm having a c-section this time around and yes this baby is 'estimated' to be bigger, but i'm only having the c- because she's breech.. not because she's big.. if she was big and head down, i'd be pushing this lil momma out..

talk it over with your hubby/so and your doctor and decide.. you'll make the best choice.. but please don't do a c-sect thinking that your body is too small for vaginal child birth.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

I can tell you that the calculations are not always right.

TWO DAYS before I gave birth to my son they said he was 8.5lbs - no more than 9lbs....and the tech said "I am always right" -- my kid was 9lbs 14ounces - so in this case she was wrong. I know alot of people who thought they were having a much bigger baby than they actually did.

I don't know many doctors who really suggest c-sections before actually laboring. I was 12 days late - then induced - and I still needed to fight for a csection. I personally would try it and then if it doesn't work go for the section.

It is not a fun recovery to endure if you don't have to! Good luck whatever you decide!

Message edited 7/26/2008 7:15:41 PM.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

I had a scheduled csection on my due date due to a large baby! They were estimating he was going to be 9lb 4oz, he was actually 9lb 14oz. I would say to think about all your options, wait until your body goes on its own, induce, c-section. Then ask a growth sono before making your decision. I scheduled my section 2 days before because I wanted a 2nd opinion! I had 2 growth sonos at the hospital they both said over 9lb.

Also what factored into my decision is that 2 days before my due date, I had no dilation, no contractions, I was still gaining weight. As my dr said I just wasnt showing any signs of going into labor on my own. I felt in my heart if I was induced I would labor for awhile and then wind up in a c. So I decided on the c-section.

I had a very easy recovery and I think part of that has to do with the fact that I didnt labor before hand. Most people I personally know who had scheduled sections had the same experience.

Good Luck!

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

i would MUCH prefer to go naturally but my doctor also estimated that will be a large baby... i am going to ask for a growth sono at 37 weeks and as long as they don't think he's going to be over 10 lbs i am going to try to go naturally. 8-9 lbs is a normal weight for a baby, i think... not large at all.

Re: my Dr. just told me to consider a c-section

At my 39 weeks appointment they said DD was around 9.5lbs. My doctor refused to even consider a c-section until she saw how labor progressed for me. I wound up having one anyway because I was to narrow and my induction failed but DD was only 8.7lbs I wouldn't worry yet...